Jura Et Bona's Argument In Support Of Euthanasia
The Catholic social teaching of the principle of participation, is the idea that we all have the responsibility and possibility to contribute to the kingdom of God. This involves obedience to God’s intended plan for us. In Jura et Bona (Declaration on Euthanasia), it states that, “everyone has the duty to lead his or her life in accordance with God's plan. That life is entrusted to the individual as a good that must bear fruit already here on earth, but that finds its full perfection only in eternal life.”6 While we cannot expect to have a perfect life on earth due to the existence of sin and evil, Catholics must produce good fruit in their lifetimes with the gifts that God has given them. Only when all people participate accordingly can we
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The Catechism states that "the dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer of their relatives, who must see to it that the sick receives at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994, para. 2299) In order to recognise that those close to death must prepare spiritually, Catholics perform last rites, one of the seven sacraments. This is a process that includes the dying person going through confession, a priest anointing the person and giving communion for the final time. Jesus, who experienced the joy, pain and struggle of being human, provides an example to us of obedience to God’s intentions in his death on the cross. In Philippians 2:8, it states, "and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:8) Just as Jesus was obedient to God, we too should have faith in God's plan for us. Euthanasia is death according to the individual's needs, while Catholics support death as our final act of obedience to God. Those that choose to be euthanised may do so in order to avoid losing full control over their mind and body, however Catholics believe that physical and mental deterioration, as part of the natural dying process, may serve to make the acceptance of natural death easier for the individual as well as loved ones. Dying is not just an individual, but a communal experience. Catholics see this as an opportunity to love one’s neighbour, and so Catholics seek to create communities of support rather than thinking of themselves alone. As Catholics believe that human life is to be respected from conception to
The Catechism states that "the dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer of their relatives, who must see to it that the sick receives at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994, para. 2299) In order to recognise that those close to death must prepare spiritually, Catholics perform last rites, one of the seven sacraments. This is a process that includes the dying person going through confession, a priest anointing the person and giving communion for the final time. Jesus, who experienced the joy, pain and struggle of being human, provides an example to us of obedience to God’s intentions in his death on the cross. In Philippians 2:8, it states, "and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:8) Just as Jesus was obedient to God, we too should have faith in God's plan for us. Euthanasia is death according to the individual's needs, while Catholics support death as our final act of obedience to God. Those that choose to be euthanised may do so in order to avoid losing full control over their mind and body, however Catholics believe that physical and mental deterioration, as part of the natural dying process, may serve to make the acceptance of natural death easier for the individual as well as loved ones. Dying is not just an individual, but a communal experience. Catholics see this as an opportunity to love one’s neighbour, and so Catholics seek to create communities of support rather than thinking of themselves alone. As Catholics believe that human life is to be respected from conception to